Wardrobe-trunk.



i1. RAUCHBACH.

WARDROBE TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED 1UNE 21,1916.

lllg, Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

En zh-361k,

ATTO R N EYS access and removal of a JOSEPH RAUCHBACH, or NEWARK, NEGPLDSMILPH Co., A oonro W JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 RA'U'CHBACH- RATION OF NEWJERSEY.

WARDROBE-TR'UN K.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnrH RAUcuACn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in ll'ardrobe-- Trunks; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, ay 'l to chal-,

acters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in trunks; and, thepresentv in# vention has reference, more particularly, to that class oftrunks known to the trade as wardrobe trunks provided with a hangingcompartment and a garment hanger therein which is pivotally connectedwith' the body of the trunk and is adapted to be swung into an outwardrelation to the said body when the trunk is opened, so as to permit ofeasy garment, the hanger being further adapted to be swung back into theinterior of the trunk-body and there securely locked in its closedrelation.

The invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide incombination with the body of a trunk having a hanging compartment, ahanger pivotally mounted in a hinge-1ike manner in said hangingcompartment Which`can be manipulated in the manner Ystated,-and isprovided with a springlatch for eas-ily snapping the hanger into itslocked relation with the body of the trunk against accidental movemento1' displace` ment.

The invention has for its further object to provide a garment hanger ofthe character specified for wardrobe trunks, the hanger comprising amain bracket bar hinged to the said' trunk-body and provided with thespring-latch, the said bracket-bar being also provided with transverselyextending hanger-supports upon which are adapted to be removably mountedindividual hangers, the said hanger-supports extending from the saidbracket-bar at acute angles thereto, for the purposes hereinafter morefully stated.

The invention has for its further object to provide `in connection withthe trunk-body and the herein specified garment hanger, means connectedwith the said trunk-body l Specification of Letters Patent. Applicationmea June 21, 191s.

claim which are hinging the rbracketbar Patented Feb. il, 191i SerialNo. 104,869.

with which one or more of the said hangersuppo'rts can be brought intosupported relation, so as to prevent sagging and inoperative distortionof the garment-hanger when carrying a great many garments.

' Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularlyenumerated will be clearly understood from the following detaileddescription of the present invention.

With the various vention in view, the said invention consists,priiiarily, in a'wardrobe trunk combined wit hereinafter more fully setforth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the several novelarrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as wellas in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of whichwill be more fully described in the following specification and thenfinally embodied yin the clauses ofthe appended to the said specicationand which form an essential part of t e same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich z- Figure l is a front elevation of a frag Inentary portion of thebody of a trunk, and the lid hinged thereto, the said parts of the trunkbeing represented in their opened reation, showing the hangingcompartment of the said body, the said view also illustrating, in'elevation Within the said compartment, a garment-hanger made accordingto and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a. horizontal sectional representation of the trunk-body, thesaid section being taken on line 2-2 in said Fig. l, with a top or planview of the garment-hanger.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section taken on line 3*?, in said Fig. 2,said section being made on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 4E is a detailhorizontal section taken on line 4-4.- in Fig. l, said view also beingmade on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a .vertical sectional representation of a corner-p0rtion ofthe trunkbody, showing in connection therewith on an enlarged scale andin elevation, thepivot-device for in its position With- 1n the hangingcompartment ofethe trunkbody.'

Fig. 6 is an end view of the said bracketbar and the snap-catch securedupon said.

objects of the present ina garment-hanger of the character bar, saidview showing also in elevation a fragmentary portion of that end of oneof the transversely extending 'hanger-supports secured to the saidbracket-bar; and Fig. 7 is a face view of a latch-plate secured upon theinner` wall of one of the sides of the trunk-body, said Figs. 6 and 7also being drawn upon enlarged scales.

Similar characters of reference are employed inall of the said abovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicatesthe bottom, 2 and 3 the longitudinally extending sides, and 4 one of theends of any usual style of trunk-body, the interior of the said bodyforming what may be termed the hanging compartment 5. Hinged to one ofthe sides, as 2, by means of hinges G of any suitable Jconstruction is asuitable trunk-lid, as 7 The said trunk-body, as weil as the lid, may beprovided with suitable reinforcing corner-pieces or clamps 8, and withsuitable catches, as 9, or other suitable locking or fastening devices.

Suitably secured in one of the corner-portions formed' by the side 3 andthe end 4of the trunk-body, and at or near the open part of the saidbody, by means of rivets 10, or other suitable fastening devices, is anangleiron or bracket-like element comprising two angularly disposedmembers 11 and 12, the member 12 being formed with a suitably disposedhole or opening, as 13, for the reception of the one end-portion of apintle or pivot-pin 14. Suit-ably secured upon the lower portion of thesaid member 11, by means of rivets 15 or other suitable fasteningdevices, is a plate 16 which is formed at its upper end-portion with aright-angled member 17, curved as at 18, and then bent backwardly as atsaid member 17, so as to provide a suitable spring-support,substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings. Thespring-support is also provided with a suitably disposed holc orperforation, as 20, in alinement with-the hole or opening 13, for thereception in said hole or opening 20 of the other end-portion of ftheabove-mentioned pintle or pivot-pin 14.

(,)scillatorily mounted upon that portion of the pintle or pivot-pin 14,located between the two members `12 and 19, is the tubularpintle-receiving portion 21 of a hinge-plate consisting of the twoplate-like members and 23 which are suitably secured together,preferably by means of rivets 24, or other suitable fastening devices.

The said plate-like member 22 is also formed with an outwardly bent orpressed portion` as 25, providing with a portioin of the plate-like inwhich is arranged the one end-portion 27 of a suitable bracket-bar, as26, the said 'trunk-body,

Pfingers abut upon 1 9, in a direction over the' member a receivingpocket the said bar 26 will terminate at a. point close to the innersurface of the side2 of the as clearly illustrated 1n Figs. 1, 2 and 4of the drawings.

Suitably secured by means of rivets or other suitable fastening meansupon the in-` ner face of the said side 2, directly back of the saidend-portion 29 of the bar 2G, and in proper alinement with the pintle orpivotsupport upon the other side 3 of the trunkbody, is a latch-engagingelement consisting, essentially, of a main plate-like body 31 secured bymeans of the said rivets 30 to the said side 2. The said plate 31 isformed -at the proper position with a part 32 extending inwardly at anacute angle to the face of said plate, said plate beiig cut away, as at33, so as to leave a latch-engaging edge 34. Extending inwardly ateither end of the said latcisengaging edge 34, are a pair of members, as35 of any suitable marginal configuration, each member 35 being providedwith a post or finger 3G, extending laterally toward the side 2 of thetrunkbody. The free ends of the said posts or the inner face of the side2, as shown in said Fig. 4, said posts or iingers serving as a suitablestitfening or reinforcing means, as will be clearly evident.

Suitably secured upon the inner surface of the said end-portion 29 ofthe bracketbar 26, by means of rivets 37, or other suitable fasteningmeans, latch-receiving is aelement which consists, essentially, of apair of parallel members 38 connected, as at 39,

38 being angularly bent so as,

member 42 being perforated for the reception of the rivets 37 for thepurpose of securing thelatch-receiving clement upon the front face ofthe endortion 29 `ofthe bracket-bar 2G, substantially as shown in Figs.2 and 4 of the drawings.

Pivotal'ly mounted between the said parallel members 38 upon ai-pin 43is a latchmember 44 having a nosing, as 45, adapted to be forced intoholding engagement with the latch-engaging edge 34 when the said nosingenters the space 33 between the members 35 in the manner shown `in Fig.4 of the drawings.

',Rhc lsaid latch-memberv 44 is also provided with a suitableprojection, as 46, adapted to member 39., as shown in said Fig. 4 andthe lacute angles to the inner surface of the purpose of whichisself-evident. An arm bracket-bar 26, substantially as illustratedl 48is also provided in connection with said in Fig. 2 of the drawings, soas t o permit the latch-member 44, said arm being formed completegarment-hanger to swing past the with a fngerpiece, as 49, extendinginto and latch-receiving member, when moving the through, and beingmovably disposed in an device from its position within thehangingopening 50 o lany suitable conformation compartment 5l outwardlytherefrom into with which the said bracket-bar 26 is prothe positionindicated in the dotted outline vided. Within the previously-mentionedin said Fig. 2, or when returning tliefgai'- spring-chamber 40 is asuitable spring, ment-hangei-from said dotted position back' which undernormal initial conditions, when into the interior of the trunk-body. thegarment-hanger is closed into' the hang- The operation of the devicewill be ciearly ing compartment of the trunk, maintains understood fromthe foregoing description the latch-member 44 in itsA locked or reandfrom an inspection of the several figures tained engagement with thelatch-engaging of the drawings andv need not therefore be edge 34,aslwill be clearly understood. One more fully described. preferred formof spring for accomplishing The nosing 45 of the hitch-member 44 thepurpose ofthe present invention conreadily released by the operatoriron; its sists, essentially, of a member 5l lying in holdingori-cunning engagi` nent with the contact with the inner surface of theendedge 34 of the latch-receiving deviac portion 29 of the bracketebar26 said mernthe finger-piece 49 is move in the direction er 5l having aheel orstud, as 52, extendof the arrow in Fig. of the drawings, ing intoa hole or perforation 53 in said end thereby permitting the h 'fer to beswung portion 29 so as to hold the spring in place. outwardly from thetriinbody into the po Connected with said member 51, as at 54, is sitionindicated in the dette i. another springmember or arm 55 in forci- Fig.'2 for the removal of any one er nu L i le engagement with the loweredge-portion the individual garment-hangers 58. "it hen 156 of thelatch-member 44- the main garment hanger is again turned pon its innerface the said bracket-bar into its closed 4relation within the triuik-26 has also secured thereon, by means of body, the nosing 45, at theproper time, rides 95 rivets 56, or other suitable fastening means,readily over the inclined membr 32 and rearwardiy extending arms orhanger-supautomatically snapsinto its holding engage`u ports, as 57, forthe suspension theleOIl 0f ment with the retaining edge 34, whereby asuitable number of removable garment the latch-device is held by theaction of the angers 58 of any desirableand Well-known spring within thechamber '40, so that .the ine construction. Each hanger-sup ort or armgarment-hanger will be positively held 57 is preferably made of metalpand is deagainst movement Vo r banging about within sirably of U-shapecross-section so asl to give the closed trunk during transit of thelatter. proper strength, the said arms being pro- I am fully aware thatsome changes may vided at one .end with perforatedears 59 be' made inthe general arrangements and 105 for the reception 0f the rlvets 56 bymeans combinations of the erw-eral devices and of which the said arms 57are secured` t0 parts, as well as in the details of the conh@bracket-arm 26. i struction of the said parts, without departne or bothof the said arms 57 are proing from the scope of the" present inventionvided at their opposite free ends with anguas set forth in the foregoingspecification, it@ larly bent members, as 60, formed with the and asdened' in the clauses or the claire, holes or perforations 61, providingsuitable which@ are appended thereto. 'Hence, l do eyes, adapted to bebrought into supporting not limit my invention to the exact arrangementsand combinations of the various dcing inwardly from the inner surface ofthe vices and parts as described i'n the said .i153 end 4'of thetrunk-body and connected with Specification, nor do I confine myself tothe the stud-like elements 62 suitably secured in exact details 0f theconstruction of the said the mann I illustrated in Figs 2 and 3 0f partsas illustrated in the accompanying the drawings. drawings A ,Whilethis'l'mngemelt 0f 011 01 11101@ 0f While in the foregoing I havedescribed 3C said supporting studs is not essential for the Completehanger as pivotally disposed the purposes of the lpresent invention,still within the trunk-body, it will be evident such arrangement ot studor studs may be that the device may just as readily be disdesirable,since thereby any sagging or disposed within the chambered portion ofthe,

toi-tion of the garment-hanger, when weighttrunlelidor cover. 125 eddown with a large number of garments I claim or with heavy garments isclearly obviated. l. The com Another desirable feature of the presentmember of a trunk, of a hanger pivotally invention is to 'arrange theSnid rearwardly mounted within said member, said' hanger extendinghanger-supports or arms 57 at comprising a bracket-bar, supporting arms130 bination with a chambered -member of a trunk, of a mounted .withinsaid member, said hanger comprising a bracket-bar, supporting armsextending rearwardly from said bar, an eyemember at'the tree end of oneof said supporting arms, and a supporting stud connected with saidchainbered member with which said eye-member can be brought intosupporting registration to prevent sagging.

3. The combination with a ehambered member of a trunk, of a hangerpivotally mounted within said member, said hanger comprising abracket-bar, supporting arms extending rearwardly from said bar, andmeans connected with said chambered member with which supporting arm canbe brought into supporting relation to prevent sagging, alatch-retaining member connected witli'said chambered member, and aspringlatch pivotally mounted with relation to said bracket-bar adaptedto be sprung into holding engagement with said latch-retaining member,said spring-latch being provided with a tingcrpiece for releasing thesame from said latchretaining member.

4. The combination with a chambered member of a trunk, of a hangerpivotall'y mounted within said member, said hanger comprising abracket-bar, supporting arms extending rearwardly from said bar, aneyemember at the free end of one of said supporting arms, and asupporting stud connected with said chambered member with which saideye-member can be brought into supporting registration to preventsagging, a latch-retaining member connected with said chambered member,and a spring-latch pivotally mounted with relation to said bracket-baradapted to be sprung into holding engagement with said latch-retainingmember, said spring-latch being provided with a lingerpiece forreleasing the same from vsaid latch-retaining member.

The combination with a eliamberedI member of a trunk, of a hangerpivotally mounted within said trunk, said hanger comprising abracket-banand a supporting arm' extending rearward at an acute anglefrom said bar.

(i. The lcombination with a cliambered member ofJ a trunk, ot a hangerpivotally mounted within said tru'nk, said hanger comprising abracht-tival', supporting arms extending rearwardlyr and at acute anglesfrom said bai', arid means connected with said lchan'il'iered memberwith which a supporting arm can be brought into supporting reiatiou toprevent sagginv.

7` The combination with a chambered of a hanger pivotally said hangermember of a trunk, mounted within said trunk,

extending rearwardly and at acute angles from said bar, an eye-member atthe free endof one of said supporting arms, and a supporting studconnected with said chambered member with which said eye-member can bebrought into supporting registration to prevent sagging.

8. The combination withV a chambered member of a trunk, of a hangerpivotally mounted within said trunk, said hanger comprising abracketbar, supporting arms extending rearwardly and at acute anglesfrom said bar, and means connected with said chambered member with whicha supporting arm can be brought into supporting `elation to preventsagging, a latch-retaining member connected with said chambered member,and a spring-latch pivotally mounted with relation to said bracket-baradapted to be sprung into holding engagement with said latch-retainingmember, said springlatch being provided with a iingerpiece for releasingthe same from said latch-retaining member.

9. The combinationv with a chambered' member of a trunk, of a hangerpivotally mounted within said trunk, said hanger comprising abracket-bar, supporting arms yextending rearwardly and at acute anglesfrom said bar, an eye-member at the free end otone of said supportingarms, and a supporting stud connected with said chambered member withwhich said eye-member ,can be broughtinto supporting registration toprevent sagging, a latch-retaining meinber connected with said ehamberedmember, and a spring-latch pivotally mounted with relation to saidbracket-bar adapted to'e sprung into holding engagement with saidlatch-retaining member, said springdatch being provided with aingerpiece Jfor releasing the same from said latch-retaining member.

10. The combination with a ehambered 'member of a trunk, of abracket-bar pivotally mounted at one end within said chambered member,said bracket-bar being provided at its other end with an opening, alatch-retaining member connected with said chambered member comprising.a plate secui'ed to a wall-portion of said chambered niembci', and aninclined ppition extending from said plate, said inclined portion havinga latch-engaging edge, a latch-receiving elemerait mounted upon saidbracket-bar, consist-ing ot a pair oi parallel members and a ,connectingmember,l and a spriiig-actuated latch-member pivotally Vmounted betweensaid parallel members, said latch-memberl arm extending from saidlatch-member, and

a ngerpiece connected with said"'arm, said .ingerpiece extending intoand through the opening in said bracket-bar, and being movably disposedin said opening, and a reinforcing post extending rearwardly from thevsaid latch-retaining member.

1l. The combination with a chambered member of a trunk, of an angle-ironmounted in said chambered member, a pintle-support consisting of a platesecured to one of the arms of said angleiron, a right-angled memberconnected with said plate and a spring-like supporting member connectedwith said right-angled member, said springlike supporting memberextending above and over said right-angled member, a hingepin mountedbetween the other arm of said angle-iron and the said spring-likesupporting member, a hinge-device mounted upon said pin, a bracketbarsecured to said hinge-device, said bracket-bar being provided at itsother end with an opening, a latch-retaining member connected with saidchambered member comprising a plate se cured to a Wall-portion of saidchambered member, an inclined portion extending from said plate, saidinclined portion having a latch-engaging edge, a latch-'receivingelement mounted upon said bracket-bar, consisting of a pair of parallelmembers and a connecting4 member, vand a spring-actuated latch-memberpivotally mounted between said parallel members, said latch-memberhaving a nosing adapted to be brought into retaining engagement withsaid latch-engaging edge, a stop-projection adapted to be brought intoengagement with the connecting member of said latch-receiving element,an arm extending from said latch-member, and a ingerpiece connected withsaid arm, said ingerpiece extending into and through the opening in saidbracket-bar, and being movably disposed in said opening.

12. The combination with a chambered member of a trunk, of an angle-ironmounted in said chambered member, a pintle-support consisting of a platesecured to one of the arms of said angle-iron, a right-angled memberconnected with sald plate and a spring-like supporting member connectedwith said right-angled member, said spring like supporting memberextending above and over said rightangled member, a hinge-pin mountedbetween the other arm of said angle-iron and the said spring-likesupporting member, a hinge-device mounted upon said pin, a bracket-barsecured to said hinge-device, said bracket-'bar being provided vat itsother end with an opening, a latch-retaining member connected with saidchambered member comprising a plate secured to a Wall-portion of saidchambered member, an inclined portion extending from said plate, saidinclined portion having a latch-engaging edge, a latch-receiving elementmounted upon said bracket-bar, consisting of a 'pair of parallel membersand a connecting member, and av spring-actuated latch-member Ipivotallymounted between said parallel members, said latch-member having a nosingadapted to be brought into .retaining engagement with I"iidlatchengaging edge, a stop-projection adapted to JOSEPH RAUCHBACH.

Wit-nessesz.

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, FREDK. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of liatentav Washington, D. C.

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